Village Community Projects in Ngweshe, South Kivu, DR Congo of Sub-Saharan Africa
FONDAMU has implemented three major village community projects: (a) a livestock revolving credit; (b) the management of fertile valley bottoms and introduction of improved crop seeds, especially of manioc, a major staple food, and (c) construction and ongoing support of homes for impoverished people and local development initiatives that provide jobs in Ngweshe, South KivuA. REVOLVING CATTLE CREDIT PROGRAM
The Bashi are a tribe in South Kivu that occupies the Walungu Territory, and they traditionally depend upon cattle for their food and life style. Their traditions are widespread among the great lakes people of Kivu, Ituri, Uganda and Rwanda. Cattle provide dairy products and manure to fertilize the poor red soils of the region, but in addition to this they can be bartered for land acquisition, they are a resource for saving capital, can be used as a dowry for a bride. War has had a serious effect on the number of cattle in the Walungu Territory; there have been three bouts of recurrent wars over the past 13 years in 1996, 1998 and 2003. Now the people have difficulty in making ends meet. For the survival of the village communities in the Territory of Walungu, particularly the Ngweshe chiefdom, it is essential to re-introduce cattle there.
 Cattle going for butchery in Tubimbi, Walungu Territory, on 4 July 2006. |
Following the example of the neighbouring Rwanda after genocide, the best way to reintroduce cattle and help the community is through a revolving livestock credit program that would provide one or two cows to a poor family in Ngweshe, which would pay back one calf when the mother cow would have produced two or three offspring within 3 to 5 years. Then the recipient of the original cow would become the owner of a cow along with at least one or two offspring. The paid-back-calf would be given to another low income family to participate in the project. Training in sustainable farm practices and in marketing cattle products would be provided to all the participants.
FONDAMU plans to start a revolving cattle credit program in Ngweshe with 900 cows and 100 bulls. A good breed cow would cost US $300. For 1,000 units the cost is US $300,000. With a running program cost of US $100,000 per 3 years and $100,000 for handling and transportation of the cows the program needs US $500,000. FONDAMU seeks partners and grant donors to support its revolving livestock program in Ngweshe.
Please donate to FONDAMU to start a revolving cattle credit program in Ngweshe with 900 cows and 100 genitor bulls for a target of US $500, 000 for 5 years.
| Make a Monthly Donation | |
| Give a one-time donation | |
| Assist a Revolving Livestock Breeder Credit Program for up to 900 families in Ngweshe | |
| Support Running Costs for FONDAMU staff |
In addition, please introduce us to a suitable grant donar by writing an e-mail to info@fondamu.org.
B. FOOD SECURITY BY THE MANAGEMENT OF VALLEY BOTTOMS & INTRODUCTION OF MOSAIC RESISTANT VARIETY OF MANIOC IN WALUNGU TERRITORY
Another village community project focuses on the management of valley bottoms, and introduction of improved seeds or cuttings for cassava. Ngweshe fertile lands are found in valley bottoms, such as Nalugana, Cisheke and Ndjove. It is important to better manage these valley bottoms for agricultural and livestock production. A good way is to use improved and sustainable agricultural techniques. Cassava (manioc), the staple subsistence crop in Ngweshe, has suffered from a mosaic disease that has devastated much of the African great lake region, including Ngweshe in the Kivu. Resistant varieties of manioc have been developed in Rwanda and Uganda, and there is opportunity to introduce the resistant varieties from there. Such a project would enable the people of the three countries, DR Congo, Rwanda and Uganda, to collaborate in sharing their plant seed resources.
 This is one of the several fertile valley bottoms at Cisheke near Walungu that needs better agricultural management, including water drainage. In the foreground the soil is red clay which is infertile. This Valley is at an altitude of 1,700m or 5,610 feet. |
FONDAMU has introduced to the DR Congo Social Fund a grant proposal for US $50,000 to import from Rwanda and Uganda and distribute the mosaic-resistant varieties of manioc in Ngweshe. The first recipients would be trained to multiply the cuttings of manioc. After nine months, during the harvest period, the first producers of the improved varieties of manioc would split in half their manioc cuttings; one for themselves and the other half for FONDAMU to distribute the new varieties of manioc to more cultivators. Also to manage some of the valley bottoms, there is a need for US $50,000. Hence the needed funds for this project are US $100,000.
Please donate to FONDAMU to help in the sustainable management of valley bottoms in the Walungu Territory for US $50,000 to match the government grant proposal.
 Manioc attacked with the mosaic disease that impairs the production of leaves and starchy, nutritious roots. |
Please donate to FONDAMU to help in the sustainable management of valley bottoms in the Walungu Territory for US $50,000 to match the government grant proposal.
| Make a Monthly Donation | |
| Give a one-time donation | |
| Assist the introduction of mosaic resistant varieties of manioc in Ngweshe to ensure food security there for the poor | |
| Help us in matching the US $50,000 grant proposal | |
| Support FONDAMU staff and recurrent costs to run the food security program and management of valley bottoms |
C. FONDAMU IS COACHING LOCAL INITIATIVES FOR DEVELOPMENT
A third village community project is the support to local initiatives for development. The idea is to set up a local committee for development initiatives each time FONDAMU assists a village in constructing a school or a social home, or developing jobs. These local committees would supervise the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the development activity. The goal of FONDAMU is to establish at least 60 village community initiatives across Ngweshe within five years. To coach and run these local committees by FONDAMU staff there is a need for a five year project of US $300,000; which is about US $60,000 per year. The money goes toward (1) salary for the FONDAMU staff to be hired, (2) for foster parents, instructors and mentors for orphans, and (3) salary for local representatives of the committee, their travel and meeting costs, (4) running costs of the FONDAMU staff, and (5) operational costs for these committees and their local initiatives of development.
PLEASE DONATE TO MEET THE US $60,000 ANNUAL COSTS TO PUT IN PLACE, COACH AND HELP RUN THE VILLAGE COMMITTEES IN NGWESHE.
Please donate to FONDAMU to coach and support the 60 local committees by FONDAMU staff for a five year period costing US $300,000; which is US $60,000 per year.
| Make a Monthly Donation | |
| Give a one-time donation | |
| Assist the Construction of a Selected School among ten | |
| Help us in matching the US $250,000 grant | |
| Participate in the construction of non-covered buildings (10 superintendent offices, 10 libraries/teacher’s tea room and 60 toilets for the pupils of the ten schools) | |
| Support FONDAMU staff and recurrent costs in coaching and help the running of local village committees for development initiatives |
 This is a view taken in July 2006 of the escarpments near Tubimbi, Ngweshe, South Kivu. |